FROM LEFT: Tia Davis, Sid Chandra, Ash Nanda, Imaan Mir and RJ Alcantara work to eliminate stigmas. Photo by Gavin GilliandGavin Gilliland - Contributorgjgill@uab.edu
Free Food for Thought is a lecture series dedicated to open discussion and dialogue about current events and controversial topics. Every semester is centered on a theme, with Fall 2016 being Race and Crime: An Investigation of the Legal System. On Oct. 4, the discussion was Building Walls: Immigration in the US.
During the meal, open-discussion facilitators introduced themselves and set some ground rules. FFFT facilitator Katy Joy Vaughn, senior social justice major, had a few words about the structure of the lecture.
“Free Food for Thought aims to create a safe space for productive dialogue on campus,” Vaughn said. “Sometimes it’s hard to talk about important social issues because of how polarized our society is. Our entire lives we’ve been taught to debate, from presidential elections to fights with our parents. Free Food for Thought is working toward conversations that are more open-ending. We want students to listen instead of just hear.”
During the event, protocol dictates that everyone has the right to express their own ideas and thoughts, and all ideas are welcome. Participants are asked to refrain from derogatory language and other language that could be considered hurtful.
Shortly after the foundations of discussion, attendees broke into small groups for a more intimate
setting. Statements were read to the groups that centered on immigration, immigrants and non-citizens, such as: “illegal immigrants are taking all of the good jobs.” Participants were asked to talk about whether certain statements were true or untrue, where they thought the statement originated and who the statement benefits. Statements included a wide range of remarks.
The discussion continued for an hour and a half. Many of the participants had similar opinions on the matter but some dissent occurred, resulting in a discussion with varied opinions, where more people were engaged.
Nathan Larinde, post-baccalaureate and an aspiring medical student, was excited to attend the discussion and talk about immigration, as someone who has been through the immigration process successfully.
“The first thing I was trying to get out of the discussion was that I was trying to know what natural born Americans’ view of immigration and if immigrants are wanted in the states,” Larinde said. “I was surprised by the amount and the way that most everyone there was open-minded, and I was not expecting that.”
Vaughn had a few final words to share.
“I hope those that couldn’t make it try and come to one of our future events. The more opinions and narratives, the better,” Vaughn said. “I know these are tough topics. It’s hard to have a conversation about race, crime, or politics in light of our current social conditions. However, I challenge students to see that the history being written right now isn’t just happening around them.
It’s also a part of each person’s narrative. We live in this world and our actions have implications. Invest in difficult conversation and create the atmosphere you want to see in the future.”
Free Food for Thought is an organization working to inspire conversation between groups of people, no matter their opinion. FFFT sessions work to provide eye-opening, thought provoking discussions.
